I am at a total loss right now

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
08/31/2020 at 16:00 • Filed to: None

I called my Honda guy, Donnie, to brag about going to the junk yard and finding a replacement seat for my Odyssey. The guy who picked up his phone told me haltingly that Donnie is dead, hit by a car while riding his bicycle. I am absolutely in shock. I just spoke to Donnie last Thursday.

Donnie was a great friend, and an avid cyclist. We talked at length about trips we had taken, and we had traveled many of the same roads in South Dakota. He always worked with me as I tried to squeeze one more year out of my 17-year-old van. He was always there if I had a question, he always gave me a deal, he was honest, fair, and just a damned fine man. A gentleman.

I have no more words. Godspeed, Donnie.

DISCUSSION (73)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:06

Damn... I’m so sorry for your loss, and for his family...

ttyymmnn > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/31/2020 at 16:07

I am basically unable to function right now. It was a hit and run, but they caught the bastard.

OPPOsaurus WRX > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:08

Today really sux. We had an HVAC consultant get taken out in Cambridge on a Sunday morning riding bikes with his fiance. He was 27 and just earned his professional liscnece. I had started riding my bike to work and that kinda made me stop.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:09

I’m sorry to hear about your friend. This is my wife’s fear and one of the reasons I don’t ride roads very much any more. The last few times I’ve been out, the drivers have been fairly aggressive.

Let’s hope that they catch the person who did it. It won’t bring your friend back, but it’s important to everyone that he/she be held accountable.

HammerheadFistpunch > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:09

damn. That sucks. It’ s a frustrating reality that we aren’t guaranteed even our next breath.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:10

I’m so sorry. That’s awful.

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck
08/31/2020 at 16:10

They caught the guy. I can’t even function right now.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:12

I’m sorry for your loss and that of his family. Sounds like a great guy all around. Sometimes these things happen so suddenly.

My friend’s young brother’s best friend was hit and killed on his bike during the height of the lockdown and they couldn’t even have a proper funeral. It was really tough on everyone who knew him even more than a young death would usually be. You have to be thankful for the small things like being able to hold a real funeral. Not that that’s much consolation.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:12

Dang. When they have his funeral, drive by in your van.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:14

They should hit the prick with a smart car, repeatedly. What an absolute shitbag.

Sorry to hear it. RIP Donnie. I didn’t know you, but I think I would have liked you.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:14

Well, good. Crank up some tunes and zone out for a while. Feel better soon, my friend.

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck
08/31/2020 at 16:15

I’m supposed to teach in an hour. I’m not feeling it.

RacinBob > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:16

A kick in the gut for sure . I always say w e play a hand of cards with the reaper every day. The odds of losing any given hand is small but the house always wins .

ttyymmnn > RacinBob
08/31/2020 at 16:17

I’m not ready to rationalize this yet. He was such a good friend, not just my Honda guy. I am devastated.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:19

Not that it’s any consolation, but I hope the driver gets everything coming at him... Such an avoidable tragedy.

Just Jeepin' > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:20

Very sorry to hear that. I dropped in to my local shop (Meineke, don’t judge) one day a couple of years ago and the manager told me, quite visibly shaken, that the expert mechanic we both relied heavily on had passed away a short time before that.

He was living in a trailer behind the shop (girlfriend problems) and when he very unusually didn’t open the shop up the manager checked on him and found him.

Unexpected deaths are the hardest. You just never know when you’re saying goodbye for the last time. RIP, George.

Kinja'd!!!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:20

Man that suck. So sorry for his friends and family. I’ve had friends hit by cars and one accident ended a very good friends life. This is a very good reason my road ridding is limited anymore to quite back roads.

Cash Rewards > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:22

I’m sorry to hear that

onlytwowheels > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:22

So sorry to hear of your loss. My sincere condolences to you, and Donnie’s family and friends.

ttyymmnn > Just Jeepin'
08/31/2020 at 16:23

Donnie was special. He worked at the dealership, but would still put on the parts I brought him. When we chased overheating problems for months, only to end up replacing the engine, he charged me $700 for the motor. He told me, “That’s what I made it cost.” He wasn’t just my “Honda guy,” he was a good friend. Even though I knew it was going to be expensive, I always looked forward to seeing him. God dammit.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:25

im sorry for your loss mate

ttyymmnn > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
08/31/2020 at 16:28

It’s so hard to deal with the fact that somebody close is suddenly profoundly gone.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:28

Wow, that is a shame...scare to think life can get snuffed out that quickly, but sadly, it’s true :(

RIP Donnie!

haveacarortwoorthree2 > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:28

My house is one block off a bike trail and my office literally backs up to the trail. Despite that, I stopped riding my bike to work because the trail does cross over a few streets and I have almost been hit multiple times at crossover where bikes/pedestrians have the right of way . Then there was the person that went through the stop sign only to stop and block the entire trail/street intersection, leaving me no option but to hit the side of her car. Luckily I already had slowed down and only sideswiped her, but still didn’t unclip fast enough to avoid falling over and severely spraining my wrist.

ttyymmnn > haveacarortwoorthree2
08/31/2020 at 16:29

I have a course I ride in my neighborhood, but there is no way I will ever ride on the road. Ever.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:38

it is..will be for quite a while too

eventually it’ll be mostly good memories....till then its just going to suck

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:49

I'm so, so sorry. He sounds like a great guy, and will be missed by many. Senseless tragedy.

dogisbadob > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:54

sorry for your loss :(

ttyymmnn > WilliamsSW
08/31/2020 at 16:56

The guy who hit him crossed all the way over from the other side of the road going the opposite direction. 9:00 am on a Sunday.

Berang > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 16:59

This is terrible news. One of my friends in highschool was killed by a truck while riding a bike shortly after he graduated. He was the first person in my life to die (my grandparents all died before I was born, so I never had to deal with that before) , so it was a hard loss for me then, and even today. I’m sorry you had to lose a genuinely good guy. I’m sorry his family and all his customers had to lose a good guy.

Where did it happen? I would be interested in advocating for improvements to the road or intersection if necessary.

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 17:00

Dafuq? Hope they caught him quick enough to do a sobriety test.

ttyymmnn > Berang
08/31/2020 at 17:03

https://www.statesman.com/news/20200831/bicyclist-killed-in-williamson-county-identified

Ronald Reagan Blvd south of Jarrell. Guy was going the other way and crossed all the way over and hit him on the shoulder. Then the chickenshit ran and, as far as I know, they haven’t caught him yet.

ttyymmnn > WilliamsSW
08/31/2020 at 17:03

Actually, I don’t think they did. So they won’t be able to hand a DUI on him. Who knows, he could have fallen asleep.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 17:04

If you need a sick day, you should take it. On the flip side, sharing something you love may help you feel better.

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck
08/31/2020 at 17:05

This is the first lesson for a new beginner student. Can’t bail. But you make a good point. Maybe a little youthful enthusiasm will cheer me up. But I’m pretty numb right now.

Berang > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 17:08

Left the scene on foot? Sounds like a drunk driver to me. They hide until they’re sober. If they find him he’s going to have some bullshit story about running to find a phone or something.

hillrat > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 17:10

Sorry for your loss friend.

RIP Donnie.

ttyymmnn > hillrat
08/31/2020 at 17:11

Thanks.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 17:29

Oh man... that’s awful. Sorry to hear that.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 17:32

This sucks. My condolences to his friends and family.

I’m reminded of a friend in high school, one of those rare types that knew at an early age what he wanted to do as a career. He wanted to be a fireman, and was a volunteer and trained for that job whilst still in high school. With his knowledge and enthusiasm you just knew that he would succeed. He was a friend to the fire department and they all knew him and looked forward to him joining their ranks. Shortly after graduation he was killed by a drunk driver. Of course, the fire department was first on the scene, and in that wreck found one of their own...

ttyymmnn > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/31/2020 at 18:08

That’s so difficult. I can’t imagine.

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/31/2020 at 18:11

I think I’m going to go leave some flowers at the shop tomorrow. We both traveled to South Dakota, and he really loved that part of the world. We talked about it often. I’m thinking of also leaving a framed shot that I took when we were there. Maybe his family will get it.

Kinja'd!!!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 18:18

Maybe leave the photo in a gift bag with a card addressed to Donnie’s family and a note about what a great friend and business partner he was to you. Hard to imagine that the dealership wouldn’t pass that along.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 18:20

RIP Donnie you genuinely seem like a good dude and it is sad to hear that you’re gone.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 18:20

Good luck. As they say about smiles, just doing it will make you feel better.

CB > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 18:23

I’m sorry for your loss. Sounds like a good man, and there’s unfortunately very few of those left.

facw > Berang
08/31/2020 at 18:42

Especially after crossing into the eastbound lanes when travelling west. If you go far enough over to hit a cyclist, you are under the influence or asleep.

facw > haveacarortwoorthree2
08/31/2020 at 18:47

In Houston I lived only three miles from the office, most of it traversable on bike path or low traffic residential streets. But the last half mile was so awful I rode infrequently except when Harvey totaled my car (and then I still used Ubers a lot). Aggressive cars, tiny shoulders, and ample road debris made it feel seriously dangerous, and quite unpleasant. Houston’s getting better for cycling, but it has a long way to go.

facw > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 18:52

Austin (my part anyways) always seemed pretty bicycle friendly to me, but riding late at night I was always worried that some drunk would plow into m e from behind going 30-40 mph faster than me on a deserted rural road. Apparently I wasn’t thinking expansively enough...

In any event, that sucks. I hope you do leave a testimonial with the shop, I’m sure his family would appreciate hearing that he was appreciated.

Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 18:53

I heard about this one, up just N orth of me in GTown. Sucks.

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 18:56

Any one of us could go at any time. I was almost Donnie myself. Sounds like his heavenly account was in good order though, which should probably be the first priority for any of us.

ttyymmnn > facw
08/31/2020 at 18:59

He and I spoke a lot of South Dakota. He and his family had just vacationed there a couple of weeks ago, and my family went there in the summer of 2018. I think I might leave a framed shot I took, and some flowers. And yes, a tribute.

ttyymmnn > Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped
08/31/2020 at 18:59

That was it, on Ronald Reagan Blvd south of Jarrell. Donnie lived in Georgetown. I’m not sure “sucks” does it justice.

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove
08/31/2020 at 19:00

I think you’re right. Thanks.

foghat1981 > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/31/2020 at 19:01

We had a similar situation with a kid a few years younger than me. His mom was one of the main trainers for EMS (and usually the “officer friendly” person who came to schools to talk to kids about safety). Her son was already a volunteer firefighter when a drunk driver hit him (on his motorcycle). His mom was one of the first on the scene and as a parent, I could not imagine such a thing. Hell, getting emotional just typing this. Cruel world sometimes.

Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 19:59

Sucks d oesn’t... Fuck T his is more like it. That was my fault. Very un-empathetic.

Sorry.

ttyymmnn > Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped
08/31/2020 at 20:02

No worries. Thanks.

notsomethingstructural > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 20:49

this really sucks. sorry dude.

phenotyp > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 20:50

I hope the killer is locked up. My fear is that he (I’m guessing, here) isn’t gonna face any real punishment.

Godspeed, Donnie.

ttyymmnn > notsomethingstructural
08/31/2020 at 20:57

Thanks.

ttyymmnn > phenotyp
08/31/2020 at 20:59

They can get him for vehicular manslaughter or something. He could have been undocumented. He may have been drunk but we’ll never know. I’m not sure they've even caught the guy yet.

phenotyp > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 21:33

A girl I know, PHD student at UT at the time , was biking to class and hit by a truck driver, dragged under the truck for almost a mile. She had the presence of mind to pull herself up, on the exhaust or whatever she was able to hang onto. She survived, lost one and a half legs, had to have massive skin grafts on her entire back. Had over a million dollars in medical bills, for something that someone randomly fucked up.

I moved here in 2004, used to be a pretty serious cyclist. I stopped. There were like weekly deaths of cyclists on 360, back then.

Are people as stupid with cars everywhere?

arl > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 22:00

I’m so sorry. RIP Donnie.

My family has been impacted by bike accidents.

I was hit in 2016 and it blew my right leg into pieces. 3 surgeries, 2 rods, 1 plate, 1 bone graft, and about 40 screws put me back together again

Then my Dad crashed in a group ride, broke a rib, got a Staph infection, landed in ICU for weeks and never quite recovered. His lungs still bother him if he exercises too hard

But the worse was my Dad’s friend (an excellent road rider) who was run off the road and broke his back. Paralyzed from the waist down. His life is hell now

I still ride every now and then, but I certainly don’t have the enthusiasm for riding that I used to have.

It’s terrible news about your friend. I hope they catch the bastard that did it so there’s at least some closure.

f86sabre > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 22:26

Very sorry to hear.

ttyymmnn > f86sabre
08/31/2020 at 23:02

Thanks.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
08/31/2020 at 23:59

I’m so sorry to hear this. It is my greatest fear as a cyclist .

ttyymmnn > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
09/01/2020 at 00:01

The guy who hit him was going the other way, and crossed all the way over to hit him on the shoulder. I ride for exercise when it’s not so damned hot, but I only ride my neighborhood streets. No way I’ll ride on the road.

RallyWrench > ttyymmnn
09/01/2020 at 00:11

I’m so sorry. Condolences to you and all who feel his loss. As a wrench, service advisor, and avid cyclist myself, Donnie was kindred spirit.

As I sit here only a week following surgery from a big road bike crash , I’ll be thinking of him. And the nature of risk in pursuit of our passions, and how little control we really have . I hope the driver is caught, to say the least. A ll the best to you and Donnie’s no doubt huge galaxy of friends and loved ones.

ttyymmnn > RallyWrench
09/01/2020 at 00:18

Thanks. I appreciate that. Get better , and please be safe out there.

RallyWrench > ttyymmnn
09/01/2020 at 00:33

Doing best to, thank you. Normally cars are the concern, but it was a raccoon that took me down. Anything can happen, at any time. Too many stories like poor Donnie... once again, I’m sorry.

CalzoneGolem > RallyWrench
09/01/2020 at 08:28

Oh man I’m so sorry you got hurt but I’m laughing my ass off here picturing a raccoon ninja kicking you off your bike.

RallyWrench > CalzoneGolem
09/01/2020 at 14:04

I have to laugh about it , total asshole kamikaze trash panda. And the thing is, I was supposed to go do a gravel ride with a buddy that night, but had some weird pain in my foot at work and decided against the gravel so I didn’t end up hurt & stuck on the ridge somewhere. Instead just did some neighborhood laps to feel out my foot, and on my 3rd lap, 2 blocks from my house, the damn raccoon ran out of some bushes and straight into my wheel. Nothing I could do, went down hard and shattered my right collarbone. So by playing it safe and riding easy close to home, I still ended up in the ER and having surgery. The dumbest, most 2020 crash that could possibly have happened. This is my new logo:

Kinja'd!!!

CalzoneGolem > RallyWrench
09/01/2020 at 14:21

That’s hilarious.